Look here for an interview with Bradley Thompson and David Weddle regarding "Someone to Watch Over Me," the Feb. 27 episode of "Battlestar Galactica."

"Battlestar" fans should be sure to keep an eye on "CSI." At least
two people associated with the Sci Fi show will make appearances in an
upcoming episode of the CBS drama. For more on that, look here.

Look here for interviews with Moore and with the writers and the director of "Sometimes a Great Notion," which aired Jan. 16.

Look here for a recent interview with actor Tahmoh Penikett, who plays Helo on "Battlestar."

OK, on to some thoughts on "Islanded."

Damn you, Michael Taylor. Damn you to hell.

Why such strong language? Because Taylor wrote "Unfinished Business," one of my favorite episodes of "Battlestar Galactica."

And with "Islanded in a Stream of Stars," I began to think (at first) that he was giving us the inverse of that emotionally powerful episode. And because I'm in deep denial, I'd rather think about the Adama and Roslin we saw in "UB." I'd rather not think about the things Adama and Roslin were coming to terms with in this episode. The truth hurts.

"Unfinished Business" was one of the rare "BSG" episodes to give us glimpses of things we don't often see on this show -- hope, possibilities, new beginnings, uncomplicated joy and simple contentment. On New Caprica, the people of the fleet told themselves that things were going to be better, and for once they got a chance to actually believe that.

"Islanded," however, felt like an elegiac farewell -- to Galactica herself, to Laura Roslin, to the very idea of new possibilities. It felt like the beginning of the end of everything -- as indeed, it is. Next week brings the first hour of the show's three-hour finale.

I fear that finale. I fear it. The main reason is this: I am sure we'll see more scenes like the "Islanded" hospital scene between Adama and Roslin. And I'm not sure I'll be able to frakkin' take it.

It was the emotional heart of "Islanded." And it was a beautiful callback to "UB." We had the lovely image of Roslin and Adama, once again pulling out the wacky tobacky and enjoying the easy intimacy that they share.

After the March 20 finale, we won't see Roslin and Adama any more. And we won't see Mary McDonnell and Edward James Olmos working together any more. I can't wrap my head around that.

With one simple sentence, McDonnell, as Roslin, began the process of shredding my heart, a process that I'm sure will continue in the next episodes.

"I don't think I've ever felt truly at home, until these last few months here with you," she said.

Observe the work. Observe the frakkin' work for a moment. Talk about range: Remember when she said, in "Blood on the Scales," "I'm coming for all of you!" Her forcefulness in that scene still raises the hair on the back of my neck.

In "Islanded," however, she played the hospital scene with warmth, but it was clear-eyed and rational warmth. It was restrained without being cold. There was no overt pulling of heartstrings or working of our tear ducts. And that's what was so powerful. Roslin has accepted everything -- that she'll die, that she'll lose Adama, that she'll lose this last, completely unexpected happiness she's had with Adama.

And she's OK with that. The final gift she can give Adama is to help him be OK with it too. He won't be, they both know that. But she's being the strong one. She's going to get him to accept what's really happening.

And that's what the gracefully mournful "Islanded" is really about, in my view -- acceptance. The characters have worked their way through the stages of grief, and this had to happen. They had to just accept what's in front of them. Circumstances are so dire -- listen to that terrible, terrible creaking -- that honesty is the only possible policy.

Starbuck has realized that she loves Sam and always has. Is it too late?

She's also accepted that, to put it one way, she's the inverse of Harry Potter. He's the "boy who lived," she's the woman who died. She pretends she didn't want the fleet to know that, but of course she did.

Boomer has accepted that Hera is a living being and should not be regarded as a mere pawn in Cavil's sick game. She's realized that that's all she's ever been to him -- an errand girl. But is it too late? How can Boomer possibly redeem the things she's done?

Finally, Adama accepts that there is a hole in the bucket, a lot of holes, in fact. The Galactica is gone, for all intents and purposes.

The more I thought about it, the more I thought that "Islanded" isn't the inverse of "UB." Sure, there was a lot of hope on New Caprica, but there were also a lot of lies. Starbuck covered up her feelings for Lee and Lee did the same with his feelings for her, and he ran off and proposed to Dee.

All that's in the past now. Which is why we needed that scene of Starbuck and Lee in the corridor. They're more than friends, they're not lovers, they're just -- what they are to each other, which is undefined and deep. And they both accept that.

Boomer still likes to escape reality in her dream house, and Laura still likes to daydream about her cabin near a stream. But in the end, all these projections fell away, and the characters ended up embracing what really mattered.

Stuff doesn't matter. The death of a valiant hunk of metal can be sad, but it doesn't matter. People matter. Relationships are where we live and die. They're our real "home."

Here's a quote from something I wrote about "Revelations," the episode in which they found Earth: Finding Earth was never going to be their salvation. Their true salvation lies in discovering, through blood and toil and pain and sacrifice, “the better angels of [their] nature,” to quote Lincoln. Salvation lies in the love they can share with each other, despite what the universe throws at them.

William Adama and Laura Roslin have already found their redemption, their salvation, their final home – whatever you want to call it. That didn’t happen when they found Earth, it happened when they embraced at the end of “The Hub.”

The one having a problem with acceptance is me, because I don't want this journey to end.

A few more stray thoughts about this episode:

I wondered at the assertion that the Galactica had maybe five more jumps in her. It seemed like she was about to come apart at the seams any minute. I would have thought she had zero more jumps in her.

I greatly enjoyed hearing more from "Searider Falcon," the book that both Adama and Roslin regard as a classic. Taylor also wrote "Sine Qua Non," in which we heard another excerpt from the book. I wonder what novelists were his inspiration for the noir-ish tome, and if he'll ever actually write more "Searider Falcon" for us. [Correction: Adama was not reading from "Searider Falcon." He was reading from a different Colonial pulp novel, Michael Taylor said in this interview. I think I just have "Searider Falcon on the brain because I love that name so much. Apologies for the error.]

I wondered what Adama meant when he told Tigh that they would send the Galactica off "in style."

I didn't really understand why Kara Thrace trusted Baltar with her secret, but then, I suppose some part of her wanted the truth known about her "death" on Earth, and Baltar can generally be counted on for a betrayal.

I thought Tahmoh Penikett did a wonderful job in his scene with Adama. Helo's often the most measured, voice in the room. So to see him so distraught was a suitably jarring change. Of course the thought obsessing him was getting his daughter back, but some small part of his franticness had to be about redeeming himself in Athena's eyes after his unwitting betrayal of her with the duplicitous Boomer.

I thought I saw "BSG" writer Michael Angeli in the hangar scene, but perhaps I was projecting.

The final shot of Adama and Tigh on their grand old ship was such an appropriate way to end the episode. That shot certainly felt like a farewell.

After March 20, I won't see Olmos (who directed the episode) and Michael Hogan in scenes as Adama and Tigh any more. I need a drink.

Comments

I'll ask you all at the outset to be civil and stay on topic. Thanks in advance for that.

Here is a link to the commenting rules that Alan Sepinwall recently posted on his site -- I agree 100 percent with these guidelines.

http://tinyurl.com/c2dkjw

A quote from that list:

"Rule #1: Be nice. This is an opinion blog, and a place where people can and should argue passionately for their point of view. But there's a difference between arguing with passion and arguing with hostility.

"If you can't find a way to express your viewpoint without insulting other commenters, or getting strident and self-righteous -- say, equating your opinion with fact, and deriding other people for not seeing the truth of your words -- then either tone down your words until they're more respectful to other people, or don't comment."

Still, this was a terrible episode, partly to do with the story and dialogue, but mostly to do with editing things down to less than understandable levels. This is not a coherent or well-told story; it's a jumble of ideas edited down to a standard TV time format, but it cannot stand as a piece of art the way the series managed to do with all its episodes from Season 1 through 2 and with increasing difficulty in Season 3 after "Occupation"/"Precipice".

None of the dramatic moments felt given their due and were ridiculously reduced not just to the bare essentials but even to less than what was essential -- leaving me in confusion about what exactly the characters were talking about, like the scenes in question were really missing something to bring the drama all home. Some examples are Baltar's talk about angels; this really needed elaboration; so did his melodramatic reaction to Caprica 6; there was no sense of how or why exactly he burst into tears. Lee comforting Starbuck lasted, what, 30 seconds?

I'm sick and tired of the Adama melodrama about his stupid ship. This has been going on for 4 episodes and it's just not moving at all; it feels so forced. All this mourning about the ship, but not a single word about the tragedy of Gaeta -- about what Adama and the rest felt about what happened to him and about how they might have failed him? or not, but we need more closure. There naturally would be some discussion about what happened. Same with Lee and Tom Zarek. Nothing. But we must hear on and on about Adama's pain over his silly ship?

Also, I don't find Roslin/Adama scenes moving at all -- not since "Six of One", when they had that neat argument. It's so overplayed and not moving at all. I just don't care. If there's one flaw in the show, besides Ron Moore's terrible editing job, it's the inability to convey pure joy; it always has a jocular edge to it or feels awkward. The pain of unrequited love or lost love is beautifully conveyed (not in this episode, but in that amazing love quadrangle in Season 3 that made "Unfinished Business" and "Takin' a Break" so incredible), but that ability to communicate subtle romance is something only Chris Carter was able to do on The X-Files.

More than that the story itself was poorly and predictably written. The Boomer/Hera scenes were the least offensive; the little girl acted extremely well; I remember calling for my mother that way. However, there were many other problems.

1. The scene of having the Number 6 save the human who criticized her work was so predictable: It was like they said, "Let's have more evidence of cylons being better than humans." I have no problem with this mission statement; I've long felt that the genius of the show is to depict the dehumanization and homogenization of "the other" and that we are all capable of the same kindness and cruelty. However, a more interesting way should have been found. Also, is it me or do all the Number 6's act in the same boring determined way? I haven't seen any amazing acting from Tricia Helfer since Gina or Head Six (who is my dream woman).

2. Having Adama break down into a fit at the loss of his ship; his breakdown was far more effective when he lost it over Tigh revealing he was a cylon in "Revelations". Even the way Tigh tried to comfort Adama felt like the same old stuff; just dull. The dialogue wasn't the greatest, although it hasn't been since Mark Verheiden's incredible sign-off; he is the series' unsung hero.

*Okay that Helo/Adama scene was beautifully acted by Tamoh Penikett; more of this please. I also liked Starbuck slapping Baltar and how Baltar was riling people up, but we needed more footage to get a sense of why he was doing it and what he was trying to say exactly that was so revolutionary or dangerous to those who knew Starbuck.

3. The numerous references to past moments from other episodes doesn't feel natural. It's too self-consciously done. Starbuck remembers the exact phrasing of how she's "put a bullet in [Anders'] head" if she found out he were a cylon? More than that, it wasn't an interesting thing to say. Also, Adama and Roslin reminiscing about their moment on New Caprica and the way they referenced it felt wrong somehow. I'd hoped Michael Taylor had dispensed with this after the awful "Razor", which committed the same crimes, but he's doing it again in his second worse story; the worst was the unforgivable "Razor". It's sad to see him sign off this way because his stuff in Season 3 was nothing short of phenomenal; even "The Ties That Bind" and especially "Sine Qua Non", which wonderfully explored the revelatory idea to me of suppressed ambition, were some of Season 4.0's bright spots.

Please, Mo, beg Ron to include extended versions of the episodes -- not like "Unfinished Business, which I never thought needed a longer cut and whose cut left in a lot of Dualla crap -- but more like "Pegasus (extended version)" or "Lay Down Your Burdens 2". If he can't do it, ask why the writers and directors can't have their cuts on DVD, too.

This show will live on in DVD; he absolutely must get this right because the show is really sucking nowadays. Season 3 (everything to do with Lee and Gaeta; everything to do with Baltar's trial; working class rights; New Caprica; the whole theme of the complicated politics in an occupied regime and the dispensation of justice afteward; even "A Day in the Life") was so much better!

Your stages of grief comment was spot on. Islanded in a Stream of Stars was finally acceptance. For Adama, Roslin, Kara (kinda, till she plugged Sam back in) and even Tigh. It's also the calm before the craziness begins. I do worry there are to many questions to be answered. Are they going to cram everything in or leave some things unanswered? I worry either might be unsatisfactory.

This sums up the episode nicely. The thought that came to me though was that this TV series will not end like other TV series have ended (if they have at all) - with an hackneyed attempt to tie up all the lose plot strings in a single hour when it comes from up top a show had been canceled. Rather they have managed to carve an interesting and mysterious journey leading to a specific end. Rather, this ending has seemed much more deliberate and daring as a number of previously favored characters have met unfortunate ends.

Of course, I might be speaking too soon. I was grateful that they didn't reach a modern day earth and pull out the ridiculous sky cycles as in the original series or have a cute robotic dog along for the ride. But there is the black hole that they are managing to create for a number of future Friday nights after the last episode.

Seriously, though, I agree. I think some people are going to be mad no matter what. If there are any threads left dangling, as it were, some will mad. And my mind is open to the idea that, once it's all over, I might wish we had gotten more resolution than we did.

Having said all that, my general feeling is that I'm not expecting answers to all the questions we all have left. I want the ending to feel emotionally fulfilling. I actually hope they don't spend the next three hours cramming the show full of too many "answers," and I am guessing that won't be the case.

No worries, I'm pretty sure my heart is broken too, but in a good way. Sitting here in the dark crying, I can't help but ask myself "why the hell do I do this to myself?".

BSG is just too good.

Looking forward to next week. I'm not quite sure how RDM is going to pull everything off in such a short amount of time, but he's led us this far. I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt before I judge this episode too much. Things might be clearer next week.

I fer-ackin' love BSG - I've been a little dissappointed with the pace of this 2nd half of season 4, but am starting to now appreciated the journey that's been laid out towards what should be a remarkable finish.

I don't agree with some of the comments above, but I think it's obvious that there's a lot of scenes with more exposition and conversely room to "breathe" that have been left on the cutting room floor - it would be great to get some extensions on this 2nd half via DVD. I'm sure the finale will be a welcome mind frak though.

So say we all!

Mo here: From what the writers have said, it looks as though we'll get extended DVD cuts and/or deleted scenes of most if not all of the Season 4.5 episodes.

You know I don't read most other forums that often...so if this theory has been tossed out forgive me.

Has anyone thought that the dying leader in the scrolls of Pythia is not Roslin.. but the Galactica...

"And the Lords anointed a leader to guide the caravan of the heavens to their new homeland. And unto the leader, they gave a vision of serpents, numbering two and ten, as a sign of things to come."

I do have to figure out the 12 serpents, see below. Remember its not a literal but a figurative notion. Its happened before and will happen again... The Galactica is clearly dying. Maybe Laura Roslin will not.

There was alot of dialogue in this episode that made me think that. The battlestar wiki talks about Pythia writing that the colonials would fight a large battle.. led by serpents 2 and 10 - and tells us that the initial attack in "Hand of God" was led by 12 vipers. They use that to talk about the scrolls with Roslin as the dying leader. Perhaps the vision of 12 vipers leading Galactica's running battle (remember Hand of God is where they stopped running and took the fight to the Cylons), is a sign of things to come for the ship.

Regardless - vipers are serpents, and there might be some significance to it. I would be curious to know how many Mk VIIs were in the original squadron that got devestated during the attack. You know the squadron Boomer was flying Raptor jammer for, that were simply obliterated by two raiders... how long ago does that seem in TV land.

If there are 12 in a regular Battlestar operational unit, maybe. Its a thought!

Thanks Mo, for these great series of articles, I cannot wait to see the Monday article. I have been spreading the word about this series for awhile and I hope people are paying attention. The Wiki needs to preserve these articles in their entirety. Make sure the Tribune let's em :)

Lastly... I will really miss Olmos and McDonald and their scenes, everyone has been punching it up lately, and you can feel the desperation that leads to their actions. Maybe its not perfect, but for those of us who have been along for the journey, its catharsis we share.

Ken D.

PS... anyone find Anders acting like a hybrid a bit freaky, and wonder if they are going to hook him into the computers next week to make up for the lack of crew and to network the ship! WOW.. how times have changed for our fleet.

Did anyone notice the significance of Starbuck on the toilet? There's a running joke on the podcasts or at least in a commentary between David Eick and Ronald D. Moore about how Olmos always wants to have his character get all realistic and have him sitting on the toilet on BSG. They always refused including when he wanted to have Adama talking to Tigh, I think, in "Day in the Life" from the toilet bowl. I cracked up when I saw Starbuck in the washroom stall; it was, like, "He finally got to do it!" He also did it in his directorial debut, "American Me", which I recently bought because David Eick and Michael Rymer were raving about it.

I'm not heart-broken at all -- almost the first scene in the mini-series was Laura Roslin being diagnosed with terminal breast cancer. Thank you for not copping out with some fraking bull manure deus ex machina -- which I was genuinely terrified the show would stoop to at the final hurdle.

Death is part of life, and denying it is a cheap denial of what makes us truly human. And here in the real world, haven't we created a culture that despises age, fears death and is not better for it?

I am officially devastated.....TWO more Episodes...then a SAGA dies..Something in me does not want to watch this ep. again but I have to, as any other person who feels the same,does. I am not going to write "my review" of this episode. Why bother hacking something into pieces that has not even ended...yet. I just realised something very astonishing after watching this ep. and reading some comments...if you are interested keep on reading.

But before that: I think we do have some incling now, as to what Hera`s level of abilities are..I mean she was projecting with Boomer! She might have been doing this all along..and in this way being connected to the "One" who is pulling all those strings so neatly together!

Now, the Scene between Tigh and one of the Eights....no actually almost every scence where 2 characters connected, had something heartbreaking bur also......closure in some sort of way. And think about the number 2.....

Ellen was trying to give Saul some closure about his feelings for his kid our his "Destiny",

The Eight was trying to find some closure by see her "father" Col. Tigh before she dies, Starbuck "tried" to bring some sort of twisted closure for her feeling for Sam,

Helo and Athena....closure to be continued (hopefully in a good way, seeing them like this....my favorite couple....breaks my heart),

Some kind of realisation/closure for Boomer after being alone with Hera.

Baltar and Caprica Six...closure to their "former" selves...though i am inclined to agree with Six...Balter has not changed!

Lee and Kara...closure to what they are to each other, after Baltars revelation....

Kara, again, having some sort of being on the right way to the closure to HER destiny ( I am now inclined to believe she may be the "Rebel Lord of Kobol", RDM or the writers led us astray with the whole Daniel arc...clever B......s LOL I love this show)

Laura and Bill........the Heart and Soul to each other...Laura gives Bill a heads up to his closure...he must accept that he can not have both...Laura and Galactica,

Mo, you have said it in your comment, I don`t want to repeat it, the thought alone makes me cry (How can a TV SHOW, be so....no words).

Adama on his way of closure with "the Old girl and last but not least...

The two people who are the real "Love Relationship" on this ship, who mean everything to each other......Colonel Saul Tigh and Admiral William Adama both seeking closure....to an era.

What can I say....for me the writers set the path with this episode.....the path of closure, the path to the end,, the path to eternal life, a life that will live on in a a LOT of peoples heads, hearts and on a small silverey thing called DVD.........WHY MUST ALL GOOD THINGS COME TO END? TO MAKE WAY FOR BETTER THINGS......yeah, I am not going to wait for something better to come my way....let`s face it,,,after this Journey, there won`t be anything better for a LOOOONG while......so say we all.

Tell me Captain, what do you hear.....nothing but the rain, sir.....

PS:If I don`t hear this line in the last twp ep......there is cleary no hope!

I dunno...
This episode didn't seem to have very much actually happen...
And I'm not one of those who will complain because there wasn't enough 'action'. I love this show for the stoytelling, and it just seemed like everything could have been done in half the time, since most of the episode was going over things we'd already seen the characters come to terms with.
The only really new thing I saw was Boomer showing some remorse for her actions last week. Other than that, the dealing with the ship falling apart, Laura's condition, Anders becoming a hybrid, Kara's resurrection, has all been done already this season.
The best moments of the episode felt like they could have been put into a larger overall story as part of the finale.
Anyway, I still join you in not looking forward to farewelling the show, while at the same time waiting anxiously to see what's in store!

Again, I'll have to respectfully disagree with those who are criticizing the pacing of S4.5. I've always felt that BSG was a program made up of little moments that provide a suitable backdrop for the big reveals. For example, who would've cared that Anders (who was one of the least interesting characters early on, IMHO) was a Cylon if there hadn't been that great Starbuck line, "If I find out you're a Cylon, I'll shoot you?" That little moment turned out to have a great deal of resonance. Or Tyrol's "You're a machine; I'm not" to Boomer -- at the time, it simply made sense, but it became so much more after the FF reveal.

That being said, there have been, in fairness, a LOT of these little moments of late, and it's gotten quite emotional. This is, of course, a very good thing. Roslin's pending death has been set up to move me in a way I haven't been moved by television since the Buffy episode "The Body," in which her mom died. And Olmos... holy crap. Watching him begin painting his quarters started the choking-up, but when he collapsed in a fit of anger and frustration that very obviously had only a smidge to do with the ship herself... wow. Talk about "no words."

And Lee. Some fans I know have been down on Lee for ages, and I've never really understood why. But of all the characters on the show, he's been the one who hasn't changed a bit. I don't mean that in a derogatory way; I mean, he hasn't *had* to change. Lee has always been a very deliberate, very accepting, very curious character, and even when he was headstrong and egotistical, he still was interested in individuals and situational responses. He agreed with Tom Zarek that Roslin should allow elections to proceed; he still supported Roslin. He accepted D'Anna's terms to form the Earth alliance. And now, with Starbuck, he sees her not as everyone else sees her, and not as she sees herself, but as he's always seen her -- the girl with a complicated past that's not quite a lover, not quite a sister... just, IS.

Finally, there is that notation from Hera. Obviously, it's connected somehow with Starbuck, and with the FF -- specifically, with Sam. I don't think Sam is getting better... but is it possible that the song, the layout, has something to do with Resurrection? Or perhaps where the Colony is? Just a thought.

Very interesting episode, although flawed. Bear McCreary mentions on his blog that a scene with Tyrol in the brig got cut for time, which to me is ludicrous. Tyrol being held accountable for what happened last week is pretty damn important and being told it got left on the cutting room floor is daft. That said, he also confirmed that this episode will extended on the DVD (as will a number of other S4.5 eps, I gather).

The character elements were interesting, the stuff about Starbuck was cool and Adama's decision to abandon the ship accompanied by that great music was well-done. The Colony was impressive, and it was nice to see the old-school Cylon Raiders again. However, the one thing I kept thinking about was the fact that Boomer's ship flew past what appears to be Jupiter, with its moon Callisto in the foreground. Wowsers.

They've been in mourning over Galactica for some time and I think Adama summed it up when he said he was tired of chasing fate and prophecy and the Gods.

In rewatching "The Hub" -- I saw the theme of embracing death is recurring from Deanna's courting death to Baltar finally accepting his role in the destruction of mankind and equating it with the flood to Kara's acceptance that she died on Earth.

Thanks Mo for your insights and willingness to share your thoughts with us (which I know is pretty much what writing the column is, but you take it from just a factual opinion to letting us know that you genuinely care what happens). Great insights as well for the hospital scene, having been through losing my mother to cancer, at times certain scenes have been difficult to watch, due to the reality of MMD's performance. She's taken Roslin through the stages, sometimes difficult to watch, but always portrayed with such sensitive grace and respect.

I'm totally with you in not wanting to believe there's only 3 hours (plus a special) left...the loose ends are starting to be tied...

Thanks Mo, for providing your reflections on the show--as well as this space to discuss.

Although I am a huge fan of the overall series, I am (sadly) compelled to agree with much of what Muldfield has posted. I am not sure what the editors/writers/directors are trying to accomplish by abandoning techniques that have worked so well in the past.

For example, in earlier seasons we were given extended moments wherein emotional exchanges or experiences were allowed to play out (often in silence) that granted a certain depth to not only the scenes but the characters. This, to me, was a signature of the show: it's fearlessness to dispense with the talky-talky and allow the craftsmanship of the actor, director, editor, and soundtrack to communicate deep emotion.

Those days of artistry seem to have been too often sacrificed on a distant altar somewhere for purposes unknown and to little effect. What remains are extended scenes where we are bludgeoned with an emotional hammer (Adama's reaction to a disintegrating ship) or scenes cut into near meaninglessness (Lee and Starbuck).

However, my complaints are minimal compared to how well the show communicates (or comes close to communicating) its message and telling a great story every week. Further, I very much appreciate your analysis of each episode in that I do believe you have the ability to clarify story-points that the show itself fails to do (you brought to light not just a few points I had overlooked this week's ep., as with previous ones). This is, I expect, one of the main reasons we all keep coming here each week as well.

I will not only miss the show when its gone, but the post-show ritual of coming here and reading your thoughts, interviews, and the many opinions of all those that share this space.

I liked this episode, but the scene when Baltar starts talking about angels and EVERYBODY stops to listen to him I found ridiculous. The Adamas would not stop to listen to his ravings and would have ushered everybody out. By stopping and listening to him the admiral would be acknowledgeing Baltar as a leader and that is something that ol' Billy boy would never do.

Nice piece, Mo. But I found the episode a bit disappointing. It was good, a solid BSG episode, but given that it was the third-to -last, I expected great. I wanted to wowed, and I wasn't. Last week's was better, but I'm not sure I'd call even that one great, though I'd like to see it again.

There just doesn't seem to be a great deal of momentum heading into the series' finale. I think the end of season 3.5 was much stronger overall. The writers and producers had an exceptional amount of time in view of the very long hiatus to produce consistently brilliant episodes here, and they haven't delivered, in my opinion. I'm still hoping to get blown away in the final two episodes.

Great post, as always. I'm a little shocked at how much I'm going to miss this show. I am definitely NOT a science fiction fan, so the fact that I'm so attached to it is frackin' amazing. I remember the only reason why I watched the miniseries was to make fun of it ("they're remaking "Battlestar Galactica?" Are you kidding?). But by the time the credits rolled on the first episode ("33") I was hooked.

I have a question about the scene where the dying 8 talks to her "father," Tigh. After Tigh tells her that he's spent all of his life fighting "you people" (which is funny since he's one of them), she whispers something barely audible, then dies. According to closed-captioning, she said "Too much confusion," which is, I think, a line from the "Watchtower" song that switched on the Final Five.

Does that mean that the Cylon models One through Eight know the "Watchtower" song? And if that's true, what's the significance?

Ron Moore has a Navy background and if you share that Navy background any scene with Adam (or Tigh for that matter) where the ship itself is discussed or emoted on probably resonates with you more effectively. I can see why some viewers might not like that aspect of 4.5, but it play very true to life to me.

On the "lack" of action... this show has never been for me an action or technobabble gadgety show....(and I enjoy some shows like that). To be sure, there are elements of that, but I think they have always struck just the right tone and frequency with that.

BSG has always been a character show... and one of the best ones out there. I have had several episodes conclude and have thought.... wow, a TV show hasn't given me this much to think about since an episode of Homicide or even Hill Street.

With view exceptions, those shows were never really about gun play or car chases or other "police show elements, but rather about the characters that we saw in their day-to-day personal struggles....their attempts to live out their lives and carry out their jobs in the wake of all kinds of challenges.

That to me is way more gripping storytelling than 15 minutes of viper fighting or running firefights through corridors.

Mo, You said it perfectly. MM & EJO so absolutely own me that I have no idea what will become of me two weeks hence.
I loved Eddie's direction: his callback to Maelstrom with the white paint splattering in the bathroom, the gorgeous shots of Kattee, especially in the Lee/Kara scene, and the final shot of Adama and Tigh that pulled out to show both of them under the painting of the first cylon war.

Equally, it seems as if RDM & co. spent a big portion of the budget paying off the continuity fairy.hello ships captains from Crossroads and leader guy from Dirty Hands.
The one minor disagreement I'd have with you is the book--I'm convinced it's the mystery Roslin handed to Adama in Season 3(whose name I'm blanking on despite the fact I rewatching it recently, since I'm so in love with this particular scene and the one where she talks about going to the gym) when the had the conversation about New Caprica and he asked her if she thought about the Cabin--the prose reminded me of the other romantic bedside reading scene( Caprica was my teacher...")--another reason to love this show--it makes reading sexy! Sorry this is so long, but I'm that in love with this episode.

I have been a huge fan of this site from afar for quite some time. It was only until I read this review that I felt a need to comment.

Over the course of the season, I have been so wrapped up in the emotions of the scene's moment that I forget that this is the end. I don't think it truly hit me until now...when I read it in black and white, that after March 20, we won't see Roslin and Adama again. On the surface, I knew this, I have a countdown on my calendar, but emotionally it really hit me at the core...this is the end. The end of reading Searider Falcon, the end of Michael Hogan's amazing eye, the end of smart-mouthed Starbuck, the....end. But this is what RDM has been preparing us for through these great 4.5 character-driven shows. I only hope my heart can take it.

Thank you for all your interviews and insights throughout the course of the show. Its a great joy to wake up Sat. mornings and look forward to reading your reviews.

Excellent review. I agree with almost all of it except for the bit about Kara and Sam. She loved Sam the same way Lee loved Dualla. I'm sure if it had been the other way around we would have heard a similar speech from Lee to a comatose Dee. They did love these people but they were not and never were their 'soul mates' whatever that might mean. I'm not really a Kara/Lee shipper but it seems that the two of them are supposed to be together in one form or another.

Really enjoyed the recap, but I've been thinking. Maybe there will be a last minute call from the governor and BSG will be saved. Maybe Anders will come up with directions to the magical shipyard that rebuilt Kara's Viper. Then BSG has the option of made for DVD movies that wrap up any unfinished business (like Stargate). Maybe we will see our favorite characters find a new Earth ... covered in rainbows and populated with friendly unicorns and bunnies. Maybe I'm just desperately grasping at straws to resist facing the very finality of this death.

There is still so much to be said and done and explored. I want to see what happened to all those like Racetrack who followed Gaeta and Zarek. I want to see Athena and Helo come to grips with what happen and go after Boomer and Cavil. I would pay good money to see Athena and Cavil locked in a room together. Mama bears are very dangerous. I want to see Kara and Sam together now that she realizes what a treasure she had. The integration of the Colon and human communities should be explored on a social level. I just want more and am very, very sad that I won't get it.

Great review, Mo! I am right there with you, dreading the finale. I loved the scenes with Roslin and Adama. I cheered when Tigh announced that the ship and its crew were the only family he knows or cares to know.

I thought Helo's stuttering and stammering was a little forced. I also thought the absence of the Chief was a glaring omission.

The one thing that has me worried is all of the foreshadowing that took place in this ep. I am concerned that I already know how the finale is going to go. This ep was dropping hints left and right:

-Herra playing with the model ships and pushing the Galactica model into a basestar.
-Roslin saying something to Adama about getting her off the ship.
-Starbuck holding the paper with the dots on it (stream of stars?) and telling Anders that the dots mean something.
-Anders is now the ship's hybrid with the ability to jump it.
-The ship has five jumps left before it breaks up.
-Evacuating the civilians, etc... it is all being set up.

As for the ending with Tigh and Adama quietly saying goodbye to the ship...I'm not buying it for a minute. The only thing that rang true was Adama saying that they would send the old girl out in style. Watch out, Cavil!

I think (and hope) that the Galactica is going out in a blaze of glory, a la the Pegasus. And, of course, the Captain always goes down with his ship. I hate that I can see the finale so clearly. Oh well, I'm sure that there will still be lots of surprises along the way. I've got my box of tissues all ready to go...

Overall I enjoyed the episode. However, I'm sticking to my resolution to not judge any of the final episodes until the end and I can view it as a whole story instead of vignettes.

One thing that really stuck out to me was this: Starbuck slapping Baltar seemed so girly and out of character for the bad ass they've spent 4 seasons building up. She should have punched him in the jaw. This probably sounds like nitpicking, but it isn't meant that way.

I'm increasingly disenchanted with Baltar's storyline. He is such a pointless character. They've gone nowhere with his harem getting guns and he's proved, again, by his outing of Kara, his propensity to use people and information to retain the attention he strives for. Caprica Six was right when she said he hasn't changed. He should have been airlocked after the trial.

I hope that his 'angels' speech wasn't their attempt to explain Head Six. It isn't that it the explanation itself is lame, but waiting four seasons to tell us that Head Six is nothing more than the Angel on Baltar's shoulder makes it pedestrian and lame.

Thank God for Tivo: I just realized that I'm going to be skiing on the Friday of the finale. I can't wait to see how they wrap it all up.

A slightly immature comment, but seeing as this morning I'm waking, baking and rewatching Islanded, I thought I'd point out that this weeks episode number was 420. I wonder if it's a coincidence, then, or in fact a marvelous little stoner joke, that the Prez and the Admiral light up that blunt again!

Slightly more serious: I love that so many BSG fans are star-savvy enough to have picked out Jupiter! It totally flew by me, but I have no doubt that you guys are correct. I think that's one of the most interesting details of the episode -- in an episode made up entirely of interesting details.

My predictions: Bill, Laura, Saul & Ellen all go down with the ship. Hera survives, of course -- rescued by Lee and Starbuck. Lee goes on to be Pres and Starbuck becomes Admiral/Commander of the Base Star. Athena and Helo probably get to live with their very important daughter -- though I could see one of them kicking the bucket. Baltar? I'd say that he gets to redeem himself through sacrifice, but I think that's what's gonna happen to the Chief. I mean, that's gotta happen to the Chief. It's more fitting to deny Baltar redemption though -- he is going to survive (like he always does) in misery. Anders? Hybrided, down with the Galactica. Tory? No idea. I've never liked her character much, but she's been shafted in 4.5 I hope Cavil gets a terrible, miserable end. The biggest question, for me, is whether or not they find a home -- and where it is.

There was a lot of emphasis on emotional closure this episode, and the Pres even referred to her closure as 'finding home'. I've always assumed that they were going to find a planet -- return to Kobol, perhaps? -- and settle down... now I'm not so sure! My buddy is sure that it's going to go out on a somewhat depressing note, and I suppose that's a pretty safe bet. That said, I'm sticking by my character predictions above. So the idea of the fleet floating in space for the rest of their lives, homeless but alive, homeless but in love... well, that'd be pretty sad.

Hi folks, I began reading this column a couple of months ago and I've really enjoyed doing so.

Just a few notes:

Alot of people bemoan the momentum of the show heading into the final episodes (or more the lack of). Let's just be patient. It could well be the calm before the storm.

I found it slightly amusing at the thought of Chief Tyrol keeping a low profile. Cursing to himself "Frak, frak, frak, frak, frak... ...There must be some kind of way out of here!"

Sorry!

I've been wondering over the course of the last few episodes if a sort of "Search for Spock" self-destruct tactic would be used to dispose of a few baddies.
Maybe Cavil's gang think they've gained control of a bad-ass Battlestar but find out the truth when they 'Jump'.

Anders controlling the ship could be an interesting idea, which could help to make the ship appear manned and functioning and give Cavil's gang a reason to board.

Thanks from the UK.

Mo here: Oh, thanks, Henzo. That would be brilliant, a fakeout of Cavil. Have him think he's taken control of Galactica, then Galactica go boom.

That would be sweet. I am salivating already at the thought of the FX we'd see in a maneuver like that.

The weak point of this episode like so many this last season is Baltar. Given the dialogue written for this character, it's just not believable that anyone in the fleet would pay any attention to what he has to say. I almost have the feeling that he has to play a big part in the finale and so that's why they continue to give him a prominent role. Otherwise, I suspect that his character would have drifted to the sidelines after his trial.

Lastly, I hope that the last three hours of BSG go out with a satisfying blast. I'm not talking about bang-bang, boom-boom battles, but of the emotional response it arises in the fans. I just don't want to feel like a sucker for putting in all this time with BSG if the finale turns out to be really lame.

Galactica has at least one last jump to do and since the ship still has nuke you can bet that going out in style mean nuke and a final jump. But a jump to where? You can also bet that the location of the Cavil base we saw in this episode is going to be the first order of business for next week episode.

Thanks to everyone for their thoughtful comments. It's been a treat to read them.

And thanks for all the kind words. Not sure what I'll do when this season is over! I'll miss this, that' for sure.

Doug, Regarding the "Sharon's" "too much confusion" line, that does seem to be a direct Watchtower reference. As Martin says, I but we'll learn the significance of it soon.

Lena, talking of confusion -- maybe I'm confused. Searider Falcon, the novel Adama reads from here, is the novel Adama and Roslin discussed and which we saw several times in Season 3. I think we're in agreement about that.

greendream said, "I agree with almost all of it except for the bit about Kara and Sam. She loved Sam the same way Lee loved Dualla."

I don't think I agree. I can't make a solid argument for why. I do think that Kara and Lee have a deep bond, but it's one they've recognized will never make a good basis for a romantic relationship. I always liked the character of Anders and maybe it's just my own opinion, but too me they always made a lot of sense together, and Kara's fear of true intimacy is what kept them apart. Now that she's come to terms with what she is, she can let that love out.

And there's nothing like seeing a loved one unconscious in a hospital bed to get you to comprehend your feelings for that person. Again, my gut feeling but I think Kara now does love Sam far more than Lee ever truly loved Dualla.

Murf, that had occurred to me too. I think the "style" that Adama's going to send the old girl out in consists of ramming her into whatever ship Cavil is in and watching Cavil burn! Yep, Johnny, I'd be a nuke is involved.

CTM and others: I'd missed the Jupiter reference. Very interesting. So does that mean that the "Earth" we saw was not the real Earth?

I love BSG, and I'm going to miss this show terribly. But in it's own way, this latest episode is helping me to accept the conclusion of the series. As Ms Ryan has noted, the acceptance of loss and death is what these final episodes, and most especially "Islanded," is all about, and these episodes have drawn me into that grieving process.

But I also have to say that the poor writing we have seen in a couple of these episodes is also helping me to accept the conclusion of the series--it feels like the writers have run out of creative steam and are struggling to find a way to bring the narrative to conclusion, any conclusion.

I do not believe that "Islanded" is a bad episode. There is much good to be said about it, as Ms Ryan observes. But in my judgment it has a critical flaw--Adama's collapse into anger and grief. This is a cathartic card that was played one too many times, and by playing it once again in Islanded cheapens all the previous moments. The writers needed to come up with a different way to express Adama's denial and grief. Instead, they chose the easy way--another emotional breakdown. It was a cheat and narratively unconvincing. Precisely because I care so deeply for this story, I hated to see the writers pulling the characters down into bathos.

I enjoyed this week's episode. I thought it was a good change of pace from Someone To Watch Over Me. We didn't see much action or many earth-shattering revelations, but I think the episode set up the payoff I hope is coming in the final three hours of what's become the best science fiction tv series I've seen. Characters in this episode were very true to form, from Tigh's loyalty to Adama's stubbornness to Starbuck's desperation to Boomer's conflictedness.

Personally, I thought the stuff with Adama inspecting the wounded Galactica, trying desperately to find a way to put her together was good. I think this is a nice carryover from the Star Trek series that Moore worked on, where the ships were treated as an extension of her crew. I remember a late season 7 episode of Deep Space Nine in which the Defiant was destroyed, and I remember the shock I felt watching that great ship get rocked and torn. I get the feeling Galactica isn't going to make it, and I may get a bit misty as that great ship is in her final death throes.

Why would Starbuck trust Gaius Baltar with finding out what she really is? Simple. She's impulsive and has used poor judgment in the past. After all, she did sleep with the guy. Also, she doesn't know who/what she truly is. She doesn't trust the fleet because of their continued distrust for her since her return. She doesn't trust the Cylons because she's been fighting them forever. So, she turned to her fellow outcast to try to get some answers.

As for Baltar's rambling at the funeral? It served him perfectly well. He wanted to sow further dissension in the fleet to draw more support to himself. Baltar has always been self-serving above all, so his actions make sense.

Grace Park was another highlight of this episode, as was her interaction with Hera. Would've been great if, during Hera's whining, she yelled, "If you don't shut up, I'm gonna kick you out of the airlock!" Horrifying, sure, but I need to laugh at the dark place sometimes.

I think Laura Roslin dies in next week's episode. She has a final conversation with Bill Adama, convincing him to find Hera. Out of love for both Roslin and Galactica, Adama undertakes this one final mission. As for who else comes out alive? That's anyone's guess at this point.
I need another show to get fanatical about.

CTM and others: I'd missed the Jupiter reference. Very interesting. So does that mean that the "Earth" we saw was not the real Earth?

Hi Mo! Thanks, as usual for the column and the great posts that accompany it. I too will miss the weekly Saturday morning readings - cannot believe the series is almost DONE!!! ACK!!! Nooooo......I think this series could have gone on anothers season at least, two more would have been optimal, IMO, to explore all the "angles" of the Cylon/Human endless war(s). Anyway.....

As far as Earth: The Earth we saw was a planet called Earth by the 13th tribe. That's from RDM's lips. It's not OUR Earth, it's just a planet called Earth, alhthough the planet we saw when Starbuck returned from the Nebula WAS our Earth, cuz you could see N. America on it, as well as all the other planets in our solar system.
I don't know if that was Jupiter, and if it was, then Boomer could not have been going to Earth, because she said she needed 12 more jumps (12!!!) to get to wherever Cavil was. I doubt that Jupiter -> Earth in a FTL vehicle would require even one jump. A very fast sub-light ship could make that journey in days, if not hours, depending on the speed.

I hope it was Jupiter though, because I would like to see that Earth that Kara saw, or that RDM showed us, otherwise it'll be a gaping hole in the entire series. You can't end season 3 with a shot of OUR solar system and a Bob Dylan tune, and not explain it! Well, you could, but it would be shoddy storytelling.

One more thing: anyone see the ORIGINAL CYLON FIGHTERS on Cavil's "hidey-hole" (what WAS that thing he was in???)? What was THAT? Old-school Cylon raiders!!! Is Lorne Greene in there too? ;)

Mo here: Lorne is there. So is Jake the Dog. Whoops, spoilers! ;)

I guess there's some confusion about whether that really is Jupiter. If anyone can say definitively whether it's Jupiter, feel free to chime in.

I don't want to pre-judge what I haven't seen, but I am not sure I'd feel good about it if we find out the Earth we saw in Revelations/SAGN was not our actual Earth. Having asked RDM about it and having gotten the sense from him that it was *the* Earth, I think I'd probably feel disappointed if it wasn't.

Thank you for expressing my sentiments on Roslin and Adama so perfectly. They are truly going to break my frakking heart and I am going to dread Laura's death every second of the finale. I've tried to prepare myself for the eventuality since her cancer came back, but seeing her like this has torn my defenses away and Mary McDonnell keeps shredding my heart to pieces.

I hope Madam Airlock will go out strongly as deserving of the strong, multi-faceted character that she is, if that's the way it has to be. When I look back all the way to the miniseries till now, I really think the Roslin and Adama relationship has been one of the most consistently well done things in all of BSG. An unlikely partnership and romance perhaps, that has blossomed into the richest on the show. There's a truthful quality, a natural chemistry and an easy intimacy as you say, to their scenes that make them wonderful to watch, and in many cases, incredibly moving. ("clear eyed and rational warmth"- described MM's portrayal perfectly! And I do love how Laura retains her teasing quality despite her condition.)

Who can forget the scene where she makes him Admiral or their reunion on the basestar or Laura beautifully bald and naked in Adama's arms at long last? Bringing their relationship to romantic fruition this season has only enriched the characters and I am glad the show didn't shy away from portraying a real romance. We've been blessed to have MM and EJO bring this relationship alive, and it's really a huge loss if we never see 2 actors with their compatibility work on screen together again.

Your episode posts have been great and I look forward to any speculations that you may have for the finale! I hope RDM will throw up some surprises more than a grand old battle.

The show is called "Battlestar Galactica" and it's easy to forget the ship is a character with a life all to herself and think of it only as a location for the things that transpire within it's walls. It's more than that, it has a life of it's own, it protects those who live within her and they protect her. She's not a throwaway, she is the central character; the series is named for her. And as that life apparently comes to an end, it's appropriate for her commander to grieve, to deny her fate and to try and bargain for more time.

It is fitting that a series named for the ship ends with the ship. I wish that the stories could continue, but sometimes you just have to take what you get and be happy you got it, for the time you had it. (A lesson seemingly a key point of the last episode.)

It's easy to tell stories when the CGI and special effects give you a boost, but fine storytelling, like the kind told around the cookfires since the dawn of time, those are based in things both greater than us and a part of us and this has been darn fine story telling. My hats off to those involved in dreaming the story up and those who made it so real with the skills.

Who would have thought, eh? 5 years ago, just who would have thought this story would be so frakking good?

Strider - I begin to agree with you on Adama's breakdown. To take it one step further, I wish that during Laura's talk she had confronted him about his drinking. How much greater an impact would it have been for Adama, in his final emotional farewell to the ship, to have pulled himself together, poured out his bottle (or made it apparent that was his last drink with Tigh) and to go out with as much dignity as the ship?

Adama's slide into alcoholism has gotten very little mention by Mo, Alan or commenters, but it is one of the storylines that has bothered me the most, not only his weakness but the enabling of everyone around him. As much as I've loved Adama, and he and Roslin have always been the two characters for me, I don't care if this version of The Old Man makes it. Everyone else has had their epiphany, it's time for the Old Man to have his.

Colonial One Resident - I'm in complete agreement about the development of the A/R relationship. Not only did they give it time to build, breathe and take on a life of its own, but what I appreciate the most about it is the depiction of a mature love affair. You see that so rarely on episodic television. It's all about the hotties hooking up so many times. Love and passion don't disappear when age lines and sun spots begin to make their mark. Even if I hate the end of the series (which I'm sure I won't) I'll always be thankful that Ron Moore gave us Roslin and Adama.

This artful and moving episode helped me to start making peace with the end of this fantastic story and these wonderful characters. I will still be sad when it all ends, but I don't think I will be distraught if the finale continues the authentic emotional arc most of the characters are now experiencing, if haltingly. For me, the emotional heart of "Islanded" was Starbuck coming to terms with her (and Sam's) dramatically changed existence, and especially her growing acceptance that there are greater forces at work, and greater things at stake. I felt that Starbuck finally let go and moved on, albeit into uncertain, uncharted waters...not knowing her destiny or even who she really is, but finally moving ahead nonetheless.

I loved your review - I was going through the same feelings watching Adama and the Prez - the poor old ship - Helo's torment...and I am glad they did not resolve Lee and Starbuck's love/friend push and pull - they are what you said - accepting friends. I hope Sam comes back for Kara.

I really liked this episode--it was one of those that I feel I'll have to rewatch because there were some things I missed on the first go-round. I really enjoyed all the "character moments" this week. I thought Tahmoh Penikett was amazing. I was so sad for him in every scene he was in!!

I had a different take on the Kara/Sam/Lee stuff. I saw Kara's speech to Hybrid!Sam as her way of saying goodbye to him--that yes, she loved him, but who she was and who he was are dead. I saw the Kara/Lee scene by the memorial wall as hopeful for their future--Lee promising that he'd be there for her, no matter who or what she is. Although, I have to admit, I like Kara and Lee together, so I'm viewing these through that lens! :)

Sorry. But this was another horrible episode. Simply horrible. Again, we keep dancing around important plot points and are served up with the same tired nonsense.
Just WHEN exactly are we going to get some answers?
How many times do we need to see Adama and Roslin smoking a joint? How many times do we need to see Hera being chased in the Opera House? How many times do we need to see Adama have a breakdown/crying fit over his dilapidated ship? How many times are we going to be DENIED knowing exactly WHO and WHAT Kara and Baltar are? This is all becoming one big depressing joke.

RDM & Crew are perhaps never going to give us any satisfying answers. And I don't think we're meant to have any closure with any of the characters. I have been a HUGE fan of this show, but that doesn't mean I have to "forgive" or "embrace" POOR writing. I'm so very, very disappointed with how this show is wrapping up. I'm trying to be hopeful and optimistic about the last three eps, but I have a feeling we're all being played.
Kind of the way all you LOST fans have been all these years. Totally played.

It was interesting reading some of the comments...I've never been moved to comment before, but I have to, cuz it's like I watched a different show from some people. I was on the edge of my seat, totally blown away by some of the most amazing television I've ever seen. You can just palpably feel everyone stepping up and putting in the most intense performances they can muster.

I can sort of see how someone might wonder why they spend so much time obsessing on the ship and give short shrift to Gaeta et al, and frankly I think the series could have easily supported about 20 more episodes where they could have touched on stuff like that. But what happened to Gaeta is in the past, and what's happening to Galactica is what's going to propel the show forward.

I've been following from the original pilot...and all my reservations from those days (female Starbuck, humanoid Cylons, etc etc)...well lets just say I am so glad I kept watching. Wow wow wow wow wow...

One thing I'd like to point out is that, even if we don't get all the answers by the end of the Finale in two weeks, there's still the TV movie, which probably would answer some things that the finale doesn't.

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